Nevada (US), August 26 (ANI): The Hindus have applauded European Commission (EC) for reportedly launching infringement proceedings against ten European Union (EU) member states for non-compliance with the EU's free movement rights.
According to an EC release: "...infringement proceedings were launched over the period from March to June 2011 against Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Malta, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden, Poland and the United Kingdom". "The European Commission will remain very vigilant until all Member States fully address the Commission's legal concerns", EU's Justice Commissioner Vice-President Viviane Reding reportedly said on this issue.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Friday, commended EC for taking a firm stance and showing strong commitment on enforcement of the EU free movement rules.
Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that many countries in Europe had been openly defying the European directive of free movement and it was unfortunate that the European authorities kept silent for such a long time apparently because the affected were mostly poor helpless Roma (Gypsies). It was clearly deliberate and mass targeting of an ethnic minority when these countries, ignoring the European directive of free movement, expelled Roma and dismantled their settlements.
Zed pointed out that it appeared that European freedoms and rights were practically meant for "non-Roma" Europeans only, which was sad. Whenever they see Roma, they seemed to be highlighting "public safety and public order" and ignoring the free movement directives. Roma had been forced into a permanent underclass of Europe.
Almost no country in Europe could claim to be free from Roma apartheid. Launched with much fanfare in 2005, "Decade of Roma Inclusion" program appeared to have failed to make any solid dent in Roma apartheid. Instead of improvements, their condition was reportedly worsening, Zed indicated.
Europe's politicians, who seemed to be lacking the will and determination to solve the age old problem of Roma apartheid, should forget the "power greed" and act bravely to end it. Watching Roma suffer day after day was simply immoral and ungodly, he stressed.
Europe's most persecuted and prejudiced community, Roma reportedly regularly encountered social exclusion, racism, substandard education, unfriendly attitudes, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, human rights abuse, etc., Zed stated.
On August 25 last year, Reding reportedly said of the situation of the free movement rights of EU citizens: "... nobody should face expulsion just for being Roma." (ANI)
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